Discussion Forums about Books and Reading | Religion and beliefs
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https://www.forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=163&t=82987
I agree. Still, they did have visions, supposedly from Apollo, and they interpret it accordingly to their needs...CommMayo wrote: ↑01 Sep 2018, 11:16 To me, it felt as if there really were no gods or goddesses, just everyday people pretending to interpret messages from their gods. While there were elements of mysticism, I never got the feeling that actual gods were at play shaping the destiny of the characters.
I agree as well. I believe supernatural things were at work here, but in accordance with my belief in the Bible, I understand these things to be evil spirit who use their power to reinforce the people’s beliefs in false gods. It’s certainly an interesting story to see a world in which everyone is very religious, but no one actually has the truth. It’s also very sad.CommMayo wrote: ↑01 Sep 2018, 11:16 To me, it felt as if there really were no gods or goddesses, just everyday people pretending to interpret messages from their gods. While there were elements of mysticism, I never got the feeling that actual gods were at play shaping the destiny of the characters.
Besides the visions, I felt more like they interpret things how they wanted. That the sacrifice to the Gods was for show, when in actuallity they can just say what they want for the message to be on their side or ease their peoples minds. Although, some felt that they were messengers, it can easy be interpreted differently by different people. Just like any religion or belief.CommMayo wrote: ↑01 Sep 2018, 11:16 To me, it felt as if there really were no gods or goddesses, just everyday people pretending to interpret messages from their gods. While there were elements of mysticism, I never got the feeling that actual gods were at play shaping the destiny of the characters.
But don't modern societies fall on the same crutch with their God that the ancient ones do? We rely on people of the cloth to interpret God's teachings for us. These priests, bishops, pastors, rabbis are all giving us their interpretation and leading us where they want us to go. Historically, God was used to support slavery and the refusal to give full rights to women. Now it is used to control women's medical decisions and if a person can marry the person they love. Honestly, I see no difference between those villagers watching an animal being slaughtered for a sign from the gods and a person who won't bake a cake for a couple because their pastor said the Bible claims that homosexuality is a sin (it isn't, by the way).
I completely agree. We rely on others to interpret the word of God. I've studied many religions, and they are all similar. I feel, whatever makes you happy and such should be fine. Unless it's something that is like killing people....then don't do what makes you happy.CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 09:37But don't modern societies fall on the same crutch with their God that the ancient ones do? We rely on people of the cloth to interpret God's teachings for us. These priests, bishops, pastors, rabbis are all giving us their interpretation and leading us where they want us to go. Historically, God was used to support slavery and the refusal to give full rights to women. Now it is used to control women's medical decisions and if a person can marry the person they love. Honestly, I see no difference between those villagers watching an animal being slaughtered for a sign from the gods and a person who won't bake a cake for a couple because their pastor said the Bible claims that homosexuality is a sin (it isn't, by the way).
This isn’t exactly true. Christians do not have to rely on the clergy to interpret the Bible for them. We have the Word in our own hands and the Holy Spirit in our hearts teaching us. Pastors and teachers are important and used by God, but everyone is responsible to check the words of the teachers with the scriptures themselves and make sure that the person they are listening to is speaking truth.CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 09:37But don't modern societies fall on the same crutch with their God that the ancient ones do? We rely on people of the cloth to interpret God's teachings for us. These priests, bishops, pastors, rabbis are all giving us their interpretation and leading us where they want us to go. Historically, God was used to support slavery and the refusal to give full rights to women. Now it is used to control women's medical decisions and if a person can marry the person they love. Honestly, I see no difference between those villagers watching an animal being slaughtered for a sign from the gods and a person who won't bake a cake for a couple because their pastor said the Bible claims that homosexuality is a sin (it isn't, by the way).
Yes, but much like the conversation in this forum about Celtic history being told from a Roman point of view, your scriptures are a man's interpretation of God's word. Even that lends towards bias at the hands of the authors. The holy documents you base your beliefs upon are interpretations that have been translated through many languages by men, whose biases are consciously or subconsciously being applied. I'm sure many religions would look quite different if it were only women interpreting scripture throughout history.DancingLady wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 10:43 This isn’t exactly true. Christians do not have to rely on the clergy to interpret the Bible for them. We have the Word in our own hands and the Holy Spirit in our hearts teaching us. Pastors and teachers are important and used by God, but everyone is responsible to check the words of the teachers with the scriptures themselves and make sure that the person they are listening to is speaking truth.
I don’t believe that for a second. The scriptures are the very word of God, written exactly as He wants them and preserved by His power working through man. It’s not my place to convince anyone of this or anything else related to Christianity though, I will leave that to God.CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 11:11Yes, but much like the conversation in this forum about Celtic history being told from a Roman point of view, your scriptures are a man's interpretation of God's word. Even that lends towards bias at the hands of the authors. The holy documents you base your beliefs upon are interpretations that have been translated through many languages by men, whose biases are consciously or subconsciously being applied. I'm sure many religions would look quite different if it were only women interpreting scripture throughout history.DancingLady wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 10:43 This isn’t exactly true. Christians do not have to rely on the clergy to interpret the Bible for them. We have the Word in our own hands and the Holy Spirit in our hearts teaching us. Pastors and teachers are important and used by God, but everyone is responsible to check the words of the teachers with the scriptures themselves and make sure that the person they are listening to is speaking truth.
So you believe that there was zero bias present when the King James Bible was translated? It was a translation, based on a translation, based on other translations. There are many different translations of the Bible, with a multitude of differences between them. Are all but one wrong? Can they all be correct if they all God's word being written through man? Is the Classical Hebrew Bible the only truly correct Bible?DancingLady wrote: ↑02 Sep 2018, 11:50 I don’t believe that for a second. The scriptures are the very word of God, written exactly as He wants them and preserved by His power working through man. It’s not my place to convince anyone of this or anything else related to Christianity though, I will leave that to God.
But yes, when it comes to history, different cultures will definitely depicts others through the lens of their own beliefs and experiences, so it’s tather difficult to know what the people actually believed unless you have their own words written down with a lot of detail and clarity.